Kicking On: How To Make the Most of Perth’s Unmissable Events

This year, Perth has an events season like no other as it comes alive with an incredible line-up of sporting events.

But your trip needn’t be all about sport. In fact, this year’s unmissable blockbuster sports calendar is the perfect excuse to experience the world-class eating, drinking, entertainment and outdoor adventure on offer in this beachside city, and the stunning regions just beyond. From inner-city nightlife to historic Fremantle, to the wineries of Swan Valley, here’s your guide to Origin week in Perth.

Perth

Australia’s western capital has carved out a diverse and exciting cultural scene – and that includes its vibrant bars and pubs. There is an absolute wealth of choice depending on your preference. For something from another age, visit the subterranean Foxtrot Unicorn. For a hidden laneway venue, Ezra Pound. For one of the most celebrated wine bars in the country, Wines of While. For a rooftop bar – and views – head to Hadiqa, The Aviary or Folly. 

For a more mobile impression of Perth, you can opt for a guided tour of the city. Providers such as Two Feet & a Heartbeat, Oh Hey WA and Hidden Detours offer curated walking or bus tours that delve into the city’s history, as well as themed tours dedicated to bars, coffee culture, whisky, cheese-tasting, laneway art and more. Alternatively, a segway tour of the King’s Park Botanic Garden is a novel way to experience Perth (perhaps combined with a picnic as the sun sets, surrounded by native flora). 

Then there are the attractions around Optus Stadium itself. The new jewel in Perth’s sporting crown opened in 2018 and has quickly become another key national venue. The stadium sits close to Matagarup Bridge, home of Matagarup Zip & Climb – a zipline that takes you 400 metres across the Swan River, reaching a height of 72 metres and travelling at a maximum speed of 75 kmh. At Optus Stadium itself, The Ozone offers thrillseekers the chance to “hang out” on the rooftop, suspended in a harness some 42 metres above the pitch. For something a little more sedate, Matagarup Mini Golf is on the riverbank, while also nearby is The Camfield – which claims to be Australia’s largest pub – for post-putt, post-zip or indeed pre-Origin libation. 

Fremantle

Fremantle is one of WA’s great hubs of breweries and distilleries, home to some of the country’s most recognisable names. For example, the vast Little Creatures Brewery, overlooking Success Boat Harbour, offers brewery tours, a range of events and free bike hire, all in a building that was once a crocodile farm. Around the corner in an equally impressive building, also overlooking the water, is Gage Roads Brewery – with more craft beer, more brewery tours and plenty of live music. 

One of the most significant historical sites in town is undoubtedly Fremantle Prison – a World Heritage Site built in the 1850s. The jail hasn’t housed inmates since 1991 and is now a major tourist attraction. Take a tour of the prison by day or by night – the latter is for the strong-stomached, with its tales by torchlight of executions and true crime. Fascinatingly, the prison also offers tours of underground tunnels built by prisoners sentenced to hard labour. The Tunnels Tour is, again, a challenging one – it involves punting on a replica convict barge through submerged passageways. 

A gentler Fremantle experience is the Fremantle Markets (noted WA bands such as the Triffids and Tame Impala both graced the stage here), or Freo Social. Fremantle Comedy Factory is a platform for both established and emerging comedians – and every Thursday it’s $10 for 10 comedians. An easygoing follow-up to the frenzy of Optus Stadium the night before. 

Swan Valley

Twenty-five minutes from Perth by car – or two hours on a wine cruise – the tranquil Swan Valley will be a definite change of pace following the ecstatic highs (or deflating lows) of Origin II. The region is arguably best known for its wineries, and with over 40 on offer you’re going to have to be selective. 

Sandalford Wines in Caversham, in the region’s south-west, is among the finest. Here you’ll find tastings, tours, a restaurant, a cellar door and a shop. The award-winning winery was founded in 1829, and these days also hosts concerts and events. Also in Caversham, on the banks of the Swan River, is Mandoon Estate, another boutique winery that offers accommodation across 32 rooms, a fine-dining restaurant, a cellar door and even a brewery. 

The town of Guildford is another essential stop-off in the Swan Valley. Amid the regal colonial architecture are some first-rate pubs, such as The Rose & Crown – reportedly WA’s oldest operating hotel, built in 1841. A restaurant and 3.5-star accommodation are found here, and the bar is a cosy, intimate affair – perfect for a late-June midwinter visit. Guildford’s other standout pub is The Guildford Hotel, a grand two-storey building that also dates back to the 19th century. The food here is a treat, with its range of smoked meats courtesy of the restaurant’s on-site smoker. Both pubs are kid-friendly, and both have screens for watching the inevitable replays of the big game. 

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Western Australia.